Here We Go Again

I decided to make another blog entry about this year's garden only because my Dad was teasing me about it. Better luck this time. Gardening again. All containers in plain sight in the balcony this time - updates to come...(maybe)

Seedlings are here!

I can't quite believe it, but seedlings are popping up already! Lots of brocolli, a couple of Brandywines, and a carrot or two.

I will post pics and details soon - too tired tonight. I also have pictures of my uncle Dale's tomato plants, which look lovely.

Will keep you posted...

Starting with the Seeds

On Sunday, I planted 96 seeds indoors.

Anja helped me fill the seed trays with dirt and she was very proud of herself. "I'm helping mommy plant seeds!" I'd like to try and get her as involved in the garden as possible for several reasons:
1. I really want her to learn about how things grow and to develop a sense of where food comes from (or should come from).
2. It's fun having her around
3. I need to keep her entertained and in my sight while I work so she doesn't get herself into trouble.

So - 96 seeds and I still have more to get started in little cut-in-half milk cartons. I suspect I won't plant quite so many seedlings in the garden. I have limited space after all. Hopefully I'll be able to give seedlings away as I determine how many I need.

Here's what I planted:
Jimmy Nardellos' sweet pepper
Santa Fe peppers
Calabrese Broccoli
Australian Brown onion
Brandywine tomato
Eva Purple Ball tomato (I had to buy these because my sister-in-law's name is Eva Ball)
Genovese Basil
Dragon carrots

All of the seeds came from Seed Saver's exchange in Decorah, Iowa. (http://seedsavers.org/) They are working to save heirloom seeds and preserve garden biodiversity. This is important now as industrial agriculture has really decreased the number of small farmers saving their own seeds and passing them down to sons and daughters. Now you find a lot of Monsanto genetically engineered seed that is designed to last one harvest and not put out seed, so you have to buy from them year after year. (farmers like these because they increase their yield and they come with built in pesticide so it seems like it makes sense monetarily)

But I won't go any further on that tangent right now!

Welcome to my awesome garden blog!

I hope that my garden will be awesome. This remains to be seen, and I am an amateur. So we'll see.

I started a garden blog because I need to keep a garden journal so I can keep track of what goes on out there and I thought this might be a fun way to interact with friends who garden as well. I will also write about related ventures - like cheese and yogurt making attempts, and some recipe & cooking stuff. And maybe just household "Green" things.

I planted a modest veggie garden last summer (see picture) - one tomato plant (Japanese black trifele), pumpkins, zucchini, and peppers...and broccoli.

The tomato plant did quite well. They were yummy.
We got a few decent zucchini before they succumbed to powdery mildew (I planted 3 types - got lots of Golden Dawn yellows, one really big Clarimore & no Ravens-they got crowded out by the Golden Dawns) I will post my powdery mildew concoction - which helped a lot. I will also post the Zucchini Chocolate Chip cookie recipe from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle that I made-tasty.
The peppers never materialized - I'm thinking I planted them too late in the season (July 4th ish)
The broccoli was consumed by the backyard bunny. twice.